Publications
Detailed Information
Uncovering Potential Collusive Behavior of AI Bidders in Future Construction Bidding Market
Cited 1 time in
Web of Science
Cited 1 time in Scopus
- Authors
- Issue Date
- 2024
- Citation
- Computing in Civil Engineering 2023: Data, Sensing, and Analytics - Selected Papers from the ASCE International Conference on Computing in Civil Engineering 2023, pp.522-529
- Abstract
- Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming more prevalent in the construction bidding process, assisting human decision-makers. However, little is known about the tactical shifts that may arise from AI participation in the market, particularly regarding bid pricing. This study aims to predict the strategic decisions AI bidders may make and their impact on bid pricing when they become dominant players in the construction bidding market. An experiment was conducted in which AI bidders competed repeatedly in an environment that simulates the decision-making process in the construction bidding phase. AI bidders were built with Q-learning algorithms, which is a popular reinforcement learning algorithm in repetitive games. Bid notice data from public construction projects in the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) was given to the AI bidders, who set bid prices based on prior bidding experiences. As a result of repeated competition and learning, it was found that the AI bidders gradually learn to cooperate rather than to compete with each other, sustaining higher bid prices compared to human bidders. The study suggests the possibility of collusive behavior by AI bidders in a scenario where they are the dominant participants in the construction bidding process. These findings highlight the need to monitor and regulate the AI participants to prevent anti-competitive behavior in the construction bidding market.
- Files in This Item:
- There are no files associated with this item.
Related Researcher
- College of Engineering
- Department of Architecture & Architectural Engineering
Item View & Download Count
Items in S-Space are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.